It’s inevitable that at some point in your married life, you will have a disagreement with your spouse.
While there are no turnkey solutions for navigating marital disputes, I offer a few points that can get you through discord without creating more problems than necessary.

1. Always wear a shirt.
If you are the husband, nothing makes you lose credibility faster than trying to make your point shirtless. Your wife will not be able to hear your point of view over the sound of your stark farmer’s tan and one pack.
If you are the wife, your husband will not be able to hear your point of view over the sound of you – well, being shirtless.

2. “I told you so” doesn’t make you more awesome than your spouse.
There are ways to gently discuss a wrong choice with your spouse. A snarky “I told you so” at ground zero is not ideal. When your husband tests his grill with seat attachment invention, saying “I told you so” whilst pulling the burning grates from his legs is the wrong time. Wait until his skin grafts have healed before broaching the subject.

3. Never argue and drive.
For reasons of safety, wait until you are home to have your disagreement. If it can’t wait, pull into the nearest Waffle House parking lot, get out and let it fly. Not only will you be glad that you did, but so will all the gawking college students and hipster dating couples.

4. Don’t be a jokester.
If your wife is sharing her perspective on the issue at hand and it reminds you of a funny story, keep your mouth shut. If her heartfelt monologue reminds you of an amusing video you saw on Youtube – make a mental note and share it later. Also, this is never the time to administer a wedgie.

Are there any other rules for arguing between spouses?
Ludicrous or legit, share your thoughts.

At some point in time, an adult married male will be asked to go to the market to pick up a few essentials.
No doubt the list will include things like milk, bread, cheese, apples – an assortment of kitchen staples.
But there are some things that the ladies must know about the mind of a man left alone to shop at the grocery store.

1. If you ask for fruit, don’t assume he’s going to get apples.
Man Mind:  “Let’s see… this list says ‘fruit.’ I bet she means apples. [Looks around with strategic eyes] Hey, these are organic, but they are $4 a pound. Wait – is that pineapple? Pineapple is good and weird. And you have to cut it. Maybe I can use my sword to cut it.  Wait, this one is already pre-cut – what a time saver. I will be a hero, and she will be so proud that I don’t bring my sword into the kitchen again.”

2. If you ask for juice, please clearly state the brand name and the juice type.
Man Mind:  “Juice, juice, juice… ahhh. Here it is. [Reading label with much precision] Hmmm… this is just some plain old apple juice. [Looking around and seeing super-expensive imported Italian volcanic spring water juice infused with blood oranges]
Oh – here we go. [Places it in cart]

3. If you ask for cereal, limit the number of allowed boxes.
Man Mind:  “Raisin Bran – check. Cheerios – check. [Seeing Fruity Pebbles] I loved these when I was younger [drops them into cart with a smile] – for nostalgia. [Looking at aisle of cereal that goes on and on and grabbing a nearby box] Whooo – there is fruit in this one. She wanted me to get fruit, and this one has some kind of astronaut freeze-dried strawberries in them. [Places box in cart] And these… oooh. This box of Special K says that it helps you lose weight. She’ll love this. She’s really into weight loss.”

Suffice it to say – you get the point.
Please know that in addition to the above scenarios, a man left alone to shop in the grocery may be sucked in to a wine-tasting and come home empty-handed, but a bit more cultured.
And if he comes home with everything but what was on the list you gave him, just know that he had your best interests in mind…
…even if it is a box of Special K.

This short list certainly applies to me, what about you?
Ladies – care to chime in?

Since becoming a full-time creative professional, I have struggled with brand.
Ironic, since it’s what I do.
The struggle isn’t with what branding is, it’s more with how I handle my own brand.
Not just my brand, but the brand of my company – but that’s still my brand, right?

My associate and I have talked about starting a blog for Bottlecap, but should we start another blog? Should we instead write our own blogs infused with the highs, lows, comedies and tragedies of running our own branding firm?
And if so, how does that work with the other stuff that I want to write about?
Mancode?
Lumpkin Watcher?
Random and obscure humourous offerings?

I almost feel that if I start blogging, Tweeting, Facebooking for Bottlecap in addition to my own stuff – I am going to split myself into several not-as-effective pieces (as shown by my lack of posts here).

Have any of you encountered this problem with your personal brand and professional lives?
If so, what are your thoughts?

By writing this post, I could get kicked out the Man Club.
Scenario: While on a casual week-long survival expedition, you encounter a bear. Being just a short outing, you have only the necessities: nothing but the clothes on your back.

Mancode #327: While some might venture into the woods hoping to never encounter a bear (going so far as to adorning themselves with bells – something that any man with a beard would never do), a real man welcomes the encounter with such wildlife. You see, to a man, a bear encounter is a chance to test his mettle. While you may have been told by the park ranger to never run away from a bear, in one sense – he’s right. Mancode #327 will tell you that the correct approach is to run toward the bear. This action should be accompanied with loud wails and yawps. Usually this is enough to cause the bear to flee in terror, but on the off chance you have encountered a bear with a bit of a bold streak, he may run toward you as well.
Even better.
The sound of a bearded man’s body colliding with an enraged bear is music the likes of which angels sing. Once you are sufficiently entangled with the bear, you must first whisper in it’s ear that you have respect for it and that you are sorry for what you are about to do. Next, you place both hands on the back of the bear’s hide and pull swiftly (creating an instant coat for yourself). Lastly, you must thank the stunned bear as it “falls asleep” in your arms and as your beard grows even thicker.

By writing this post, I could get kicked out the Man Club.
Scenario: You have to attend a social gathering in someone’s home where those attending are primarily families with small children.

Mancode #131: No doubt you will exhaust your conversation tank within 10 minutes. Therefore, head off the inevitable small talk that accompanies sports sim, and get your hands on the smallest baby you can find. Once you have this little bundle of diversion, find a comfy place and settle in. Now, when someone approaches you to chat you up, just pantomime a face that says, “Hee hee… this little tiny angel from heaven is all tuckered out and I am just trying to get this miniature blessing to sleep. So as much as I would love to tell you about what I do for a living, please – just shush.” Make sure this message delivered via facial expressions is followed by a quiet smile.
The best part about the baby accessory is not only does it get you out of annoying conversations on being organic, but it is also a sure-fire way of letting you fall asleep to the praise of most of the party-goers. Once you have soothed the infant smokescreen into a deep slumber, feel free to zonk out. This is one of those rare times in life that falling asleep in public can actually make you an exemplary human being. The mothers will smile, but the men will be kicking themselves knowing their window of opportunity has closed.
A word of caution – though you might be snoozing deeply to the praise and laud of most of the people gathered – don’t drop the baby. Not only will your cover be blown, but you will most certainly have to start answering questions.

As a man, I probably shouldn’t be telling you our secret codes for fear of being kicked out — kicked out of the Man Club.

Scenario: You have volunteered your time to be the coach for a little league soccer team and it’s the last practice.

Mancode #32: It’s common knowledge that every last practice involves some sort of giant, unbalanced scrimmage. The teams are typically you and your assistant coach versus the whole squad of little kids. It usually takes place at the end of the practice when the parents are becoming super restless after having spent every Tuesday evening watching from a camp chair.
When you blow the whistle, not only is it the signal for the start of the match, it also signals the time where you begin to show off. It is acceptable for you to relive your high school glory days as you square off against 11 children. Be sure to outpass, outrun, juke and dodge the massive and fumbling throng of tikes. When the kids do steal the ball from you, make sure you moan and groan in a playful fashion as if you meant for them to steal it. It is not acceptable for you to win however. Let the kids win.
And when you are in the midst of dazzling the kids and the moms with your skill, you will no doubt attempt to chip a ball over the heads of those tiny soccer players. And no doubt, your skill will fail and you will blast the smallest girl on your team right in the face from point blank range. When she falls, run to her immediately kind of sort of laughing as if everything is okay. Do not shriek as you help her to her knees and her face already resembles a catcher’s mitt. That’s when you administer a hug and quickly make solid eye contact with the girl’s parent who is rushing to the scene. Sort of laugh as you pass the disheveled child to the parent, and promptly dismiss practice as if it were all going to plan.

Who wants more Mancode?

As a man, I probably shouldn’t be telling you our secret codes for fear of being kicked out — kicked out of the Man Club.

Scenario: You have set up an appointment with the optometrist because you say that “your eyes are bothering you.”

Mancode #97: While everyone might be fooled into thinking that your 20/10 vision is deteriorating, that could not be farther from the truth. What people don’t know is that as men age, their vision actually gets better. In fact, their vision becomes so acute, that men will go to great lengths to shield the general public from their optic power. Sure, a man may go the optometrist to get “his prescriptions,” but in reality, he is getting a pair of glasses that keep him from reading sensitive documents through walls. That’s right. As men age, they develop super vision. A man of the ripe old age of 97 may wear a pair of thick glasses. It’s not because he can’t see, it’s because he doesn’t want to level a town with the violent laser beams that have started to shoot out of his eyes.

So next time you see a man walking into the optometrist, do not scoff – simply thank him, and be on your way.

What is this? You desire more Mancode? Okay.

As a man, I probably shouldn’t be telling you our secret codes for fear of being kicked out — kicked out of the Man Club.

Scenario: You, a man, go to the restroom and emerge 20 minutes later much to the disappointment of your lady.

Mancode #313: Extended bathroom time doesn’t mean that your lady’s cooking was awful or that your late night Taco Bell run is ringing your doorbell (though sometimes that is exactly the case). While no one besides a man (namely a woman) would understand, it is important to embrace this Mancode for the betterment of the world.

Extended bathroom time allows:
1. Reading Time
Sometimes men set about reading an entire book while in the restroom. Tolstoy, even read in small increments, still makes us smarter.
2. Quiet Time
There is a point in a man’s day where he just needs some quiet. A boy-crazy teenage daughter will not bother her daddy while he is “busy.”
3. Catching Up on World Events Time
That rustling of paper isn’t cheap toilet tissue, it’s the Wall Street Journal, baby. Or maybe the comics.
4. Rest Time
A man can’t clean the whole house without an occasional rest, can he? No, he cannot.
5. Angry Birds Time
That’s it. He’s playing Angry Birds. Where he cannot be shamed. Unless someone ignores the sound of the fan, opens the door anyway to discover a man, his iPad and his downed trousers at the base of his hairy legs.

Men – our bathroom time is important to us.
Help me explain why bathroom time is critical.
(Ladies – feel free to vent)

As a man, I probably shouldn’t be telling you our secret codes for fear of being kicked out — kicked out of the Man Club.

Scenario: You have been assigned the task of going to the grocery store and your lady has given you a list.

Mancode #77: Though you will come home with versions of the items on the list, Mancode allows you to alter any of the suggestions and add to the grocery inventory (it also allows for you to completely forget some things as well).

Coupons
If you were given a grocery list, you are almost certain to have been given a stack of coupons that you have carefully rolled up and shoved in your pocket.  Even as you were receiving specific instructions on how to use them, you knew that those coupons were never going to see the light of day.
Packaging
Sure, a 4-pack of stick butter is on your list.  You know that the brand in the convenient tub is easier to spread and has better graphics.  Also on the list is a bag of shredded cheese produced by a company called “Great Value.”  You get the “Kraft” shredded cheese because you know that brand names always taste better.
Milk
The list reads “2 gallons of 1% milk.”  Men don’t drink crappy milk-water.  You need vitamin D to feed your muscles.
Lady Items
Inevitably, your list will call for you to acquire some “lady specific” items.  You must get them, but always be sure to shake your head, roll your eyes and sigh as you toss the items carelessly into the cart.  Do this even if it appears no one is around, just in case.  You don’t want to take the chance on someone thinking you are okay with making those kinds of purchases.
Freestyle
Always be sure to stray from the list and exceed the grocery budget by at least $40.  Items to get that are not on the list are: several bags of chips, cookies, strange ice cream flavours, soda and lots of paper products for quick clean-up.  Because you have the drive home ahead of you, be sure to grab at least 2 candy bars and a pack of gum as you are checking out (you should also get something to drink since the candy bars will make you thirsty).

Did I miss anything in Mancode for shopping?
Want more Mancode?  You are not alone.

I am not normal.
In fact, I have entertained the thought that I may actually be superhuman.
My hearing is heightened, I can detect changes in the atmosphere, I can feel things others find imperceptible and so on.
The unfortunate side to these superhuman strengths are how they would make me super vulnerable.

In a freshly painted warehouse, some crooks are fiendishly packing boxes full of stolen jeans. SuperKev bursts through the door in normal-fitting attire.

SuperKev: Stop right there, villians!
Villians: Oh, no! It’s SuperKev!
SuperKev: That’s right, it is me! And you are all going to jai… woah. What’s that smell?
Villians: [glancing to one another] Uh…the place was painted recently? Maybe that’s it? Why?
SuperKev: Don’t the fumes make you feel weird? I think I can actually taste it… and my nose feels numb.
Villians: No, we are okay. We’ve bee…
SuperKev: Do you guys hear that exhaust fan? I think it might have a loose belt.
Villians: [reaching for a pair of pants]
SuperKev: It’s really hot in here too. Wow, I really need some air.

The villians get back to packing as SuperKev slowly exits holding his head.

Do you have some strange quirks that you would dare share on this blog?